Card-index system.



No. 876,315. PATENTED JAN.14, 1908;

- s. s. BRADWAY.

CARD INDEX SYSTEM.

APPLICATION TILED AUG. 14, 1907.-

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I TEN anal T5 C9510! 7'5 czar 7-5 airs Inventor, 4 selolos Bradwog,

Witnesses:

SELAH S. BRADWAY, OF AlERlOll'N, NEW YORK.

CARD-INDEX SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented in 15511908.

Application filed August 14-. 1907. Serial No. 388.520.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, SELAH S. Bnxnwxr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Watertown, in they county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented certain .new and useful Improvements in Card- Index Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in card index systems, designed for use in keeping records or accounts, and the invention relates particularly to a card system wherein certain of the cards may be selected and handled with greater facility and case than in systems formerly devised.

The object of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and.durable card in dex, consisting of suitable lettered or numbered division cards, which may partake of any of the well-known forms or designs, and having alphabetic or other characters to designate the different divisions, and a series of sub-division or individual cards upon Which accounts or records may be written and kept, the latter cards, to which my invention relates particularly, being .provided with means for readily and quickly separating one card from another and for -shuffling or handling but one card, instead of two or more, at a time, thus preventing delay and confusion in finding the desired card.

The invention consists principally in pro viding sub-division or duplicate cards for index systems, which in addition to being ruled and otherwise arranged for making and preserving records and accounts, have a rectangular or square notch or dent cut in one of their upper corners, and preferably no arranged that one alternate set of the cards have the notches cut in the upper right-hand corners, and the other alternate set have the notches cut in the upper left-hand corners.

The invention further consists in providing a light metallic clip or part and securing the same to the edges of the card which form the notches or dents, for the purpose of preventing the cards from being torn at the angle of the notches, or otherwise mutilated in the handling of the same.

The object in providing the notches referred to,is to permit the operator to sort or shift the individual cards in a quick and ready mannerby inserting one of his fingers in the notch, and with its tip or with the finger nail,

catch and pull one card at a'time toward him and thus select or find the desired card.

Other features and parts of the invention will be understood from the detail descrip tion which follows, and by reference to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of my card index system, showing the eonstruction. and arrangement of the cards to which my improvement is applied. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the sub-division or account cards, showing the finger notch or dent formed in one of the upper corners, also showing the metal clip to protect the edges of the notch or dent. Fig. 3is an enlarged detail perspective view of a portion of the cards, showing the metal bound dent on a larger scale.

Similar numerals of reference are assigned to corresponding parts throughout the several figures.

1n the drawing, 2, 2,2 represent division or index cards, preferably plain, and having an upwardly extending lug or ortion 3 formed on each of them, upon whic an index letter or numeral may be inscribed.

4, 4, 4 represent a series of rectangular or square .card's, which are disposed between the index or division cards 2, and these are preferably ruled 'or otherwise arranged for keeping individual records or accounts of persons or things, which may be indexed under the different letters or numerals carried by the division cards 2.

(ard index systems are generally provided with a complete alphabetic series of the division cards 2, and between these index cards a large number of sub-division or individual account or record cards 4 are disposed. Some of the card systems are provided with sub-index cards on which the vowels are indicated, and in such systems a full complement of these cards are placed at intervals between the main division cards 2. In the latter systems there is also a series of the cards 4 disposcd between each pair of vowel cards.

' The cards of practically all index systems are disposed in a suitable case or box in close order, and when it is desired to find and withdraw a particular card for the purpose of recording some data, or of ascertaining the status of an account, the clerk selects the proper division, by means of the indexed or lettered cards 2, and then seeks the desired of the said of handlings.

card among the large number of individual cards 4, and in so doing he catches the upper edges of the cards with the tips of his fingers and pulls or turns them toward him. As the cards are usually fiat and thin and cling close together, he experiences considerable di'fliculty in separating and turning over one card at a time, and as a result, often passes by the card sought for, thus necessitating a rehzin- 'dling of the several cards and causing'delay in finding therecord orl' account he is looking for. In order to facilitate the manipulation cards and render the search for a articular record card definite and certain with but'onehandling of the cards, I have provided a simple means consisting of a notch or dent 5, which is cut in the upper right and left hand corners of the subdivision cards 4.

These dents are preferably cut in the alter-.

nate cards in such manner that the first-card, for instance, of thedivision A, is notched at the upper right-hand corner, and the second card is'notched at the upper left-hand corner. The third card is notched in the right hand corner, and so on alternately throughout the whole series of each division.

The cards used in index systems of the classes referred to, are usually made of light, thin card-board,'and when dented or notched.

in the manner-described, are liable to'become the inner angle oithe notches 5 after .a number otherwise injuring the cards of my system, I

. preferably. secured to the cards by pressing 40 provide a shieldor clip 6,1pref erably made of thin, light malleable metal, such as brass, tin.

or aluminium, and these clips. are forine'd to fit the right-angle of the dents 5, and are the Wings or leaves tightly against the sides of the cards. When so will remain in place and prevent the tearing, soiling or mutilating of theedges'oi the cards which form'the dents. The metal employed for the clips 6 should be of as thin gage as will protect the cards and yet not material y increase the thickness of the cards at the corners where applied. I v

In carrying out the spirit or object of my invention,

' as such systems require for extensive use.

To manipulate the cards 4, having my improvement, the clerk will place the tip of his To provide against tearing or Y I hand corners, and

secured, these clips I do not regard the mann 'clips 6 indispensable or essential,'=as the index finger against the horizontal edge of the dent 5, which will enable him to instantly gain a purchase on the card. and draw it toward hiIXL, The next card may then be handled in the same manner with the other hand, and soon, until he has found the desired card..- Under this construction and arrangement of the sub-division cards, each card may be turned'over in regular order,

without disturbing the succeedin card, and much delay and annoyance may Ive savedin the operatioh of card index'systems.

I reserve the right to vary or change the parts of my device within the spirit of my invention.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a card index system, the-combina-v tion with a series of division cards bearing index letters or numerals, of a series of acin' one upper corner and arranged in'alternate sets, the cards of one sethaving the notches cut in the upper right-hand comers,-

and the cards of the other set having the notches cut in the upper left-hand-corners, substantially as described. 4 v

2. In a-c'ard index system, the combina tion witha series of division cards bearing index characters, of a series of sub-division cards having a dent cut in one x of each, and arranged in alternate sets, the :c ardsoi one set having dents cut the uper right-hand corners, and the cards or t e other set having dents cut in the uppielr left'- an angular meta '0 clip secured to each card in amanner to protect the edges of the dent, substantially as described.

3. A card index system, comprising a series of division cards having upwardly projecting portions bearing index letters or numbers, a series of individual account or record cards each having a notch out in one uppercorner, the said cards being disposed in alternate sets of substantially equal num ber, the cards of one set having the notches cut in the upper right-hand corners, and the cards of the other set in the upper left-hand corners, and a clip to bind and shield notches, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix'my signature in presence of two witnesses.

1 SELAI-I S. BRADINAY.

'itnesses: 1

EDGAR V; BLoonoUcH,

JEROME F. Hanoocx.

Bil count cards, each having a notch or dentcut upper corner having the notches cut the edges of each of said 

